Just hours after returning to the White House on January 20, President Donald Trump launched a sweeping initiative aimed at rooting out what he calls the “deep state” — a term he’s long used to describe entrenched government insiders and political adversaries.
His first move came in the form of an executive order, directing the Attorney General to investigate the Department of Justice and other agencies for possible political bias or misuse of power. That same day, Pentagon officials removed a portrait of General Mark Milley — the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and vocal Trump critic — from a prominent hallway. By evening, Trump had also stripped John Bolton, his former national security adviser turned critic, of his Secret Service protection following federal warnings of threats to Bolton from Iran.
These early actions set the tone for what has become a highly aggressive first 100 days back in office. Trump has leaned heavily on executive authority to go after individuals and institutions he sees as part of a longstanding effort to undermine him — from former intelligence leaders tied to the Russia investigation to legal firms involved in cases against him and even former Biden administration officials.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the administration’s moves, saying, “Past presidents have failed to disrupt the status quo in Washington. President Trump is fully committed to ending the grip of unaccountable bureaucracies.” Fields added that the administration is focused on cutting waste and delivering on campaign promises by making full use of constitutional powers.
Trump’s critics have been caught off guard by the speed and scope of his efforts, even though he had signaled his intentions throughout the campaign. Historians note that while presidents often clash with rivals, Trump’s use of presidential tools to directly target perceived enemies stands apart. “Every president has adversaries,” said Jeremi Suri, a presidential historian at the University of Texas at Austin, “but this level of retaliation is highly unusual.”
Through executive orders, Trump has revoked security clearances, barred certain individuals from federal buildings, and ordered investigations into former officials accused of disloyalty — including those who pushed back on his claims about the 2020 election. He has also reportedly pressured departments like Education and Agriculture to cut funding to states or institutions he believes are opposing his policies, including a recent freeze on federal school funding in Maine following a dispute with the state’s governor.
In one notable case, Trump revoked the security clearances of attorneys from the law firm Covington & Burling, which had represented special counsel Jack Smith during investigations into Trump. Trump even joked that he would send the pen he used to sign the executive order to Smith as a souvenir. Several other law firms have also been targeted, with the White House asserting that their ties to past investigations and critics of the administration justify the actions.
As the administration pushes forward, one thing is clear: Trump is making good on his vow to take on what he views as a government establishment working against him — and he’s doing it faster and more forcefully than most expected.
